4 Ways Facebook Groups Can Transform Your Teaching

March 3, 2018

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Over the past year or so I’ve found myself using Facebook in an increasingly different way than in the past. Instead of using this social media platform to post pictures from a vacation, or comment on an update shared by a friend or family member… it’s become a source of professional learning. Is there such a thing as Facebook groups for teachers?

So many of the passionate educators I follow on Twitter, or folks I’ve met at education conferences, are also people I’m connected with on Facebook. This means that I get to see blog posts they’ve written or read, see links to their favorite podcast, or learn about what books they’re reading that week. Facebook has become an awesome addition to the way I usually use a platform like Twitter, where I’m scrolling through my feed each day as I learn and share with fellow educators.

But what if your Facebook friends aren’t in the field of education? How can you leverage the power of Facebook as a professional learning tool?

Facebook Groups for Teachers

Facebook groups are a great way to connect with educators who are passionate about a topic you love or want to learn more about. The search bar at the very top of your Facebook page lets you type in a keyword like ‘”makerspaces” or “3D printing” to find groups that have been created to bring people together who have a similar interest. Some groups are open so anyone can join, and other groups ask you to request to join.

On this list I’ve pulled together a few ways Facebook groups can transform your teaching. Just like any professional learning tool, it’s all about how you use it. I hope these tips can help you make the most of Facebook groups this school year!

4 Ways Facebook Groups Can Transform Your Teaching

Find inspiration

The wonderful thing about Facebook groups is that it brings people together around a common interest. This is true even if they have a variety of opinions or experience with a particular topic. You might join a Facebook group that focuses on reading strategies and find new ideas, resources or books to bring into your classroom.

When scrolling through posts in a Facebook group I often find inspiration from the comments left by others or appreciate the links someone shares to keep a discussion going. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve added a book to my Amazon wish list because I saw a fellow educators share it on Facebook. Here’s one example of a book I snagged after a great Facebook recommendation.

Share ideas

As a member of a Facebook group you can share your own ideas with fellow educators. You might decide to share a lesson you’ve created, a success story from your classroom or a favorite book you’re reading. Just last month I shared a story about a lesson I taught with Nearpod in a Facebook group where I’m a member. It was so much fun to see the responses from fellow educators who have also used this interactive presentation tool too.

Some Facebook groups have rules about sharing products, like posting links to lessons you’re selling in a Teachers Pay Teachers store. You’ll find guidelines for most groups as soon as you join. If sharing a post in a Facebook group seems a little intimidating at first, you can always find someone else’s post and share a relevant idea or connection in the comments.

Solicit feedback

Not sure about a new lesson idea? Looking for the perfect EdTech tool to energize an upcoming unit of study? You can also post questions in Facebook groups to solicit feedback and gather ideas from others on a specific topic.

As a classroom teacher I was very lucky to have amazing, collaborative educators on my grade level team and throughout the school where I worked. If you don’t have someone in your building who you feel comfortable reaching out to, a Facebook group might be a welcome option.

Create connections

Whether we’ve met before at a school visit or conference, or you receive my weekly newsletter, you know how much I talk about authentic audiences. It’s a topic I discuss in my self-paced online course EdTech Rebootand comes up throughout my book Tasks Before Apps.

As you create connections in Facebook groups you might find authentic audiences to share student work with a class halfway around the world who is also studying the same topic as your students. For example, if your class is creating math tutorials using Spark Video or Explain Everything, you can share them with a class in a different country so those students can give your students feedback (or vice versa).

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About Class Tech Tips

ClassTechTips.com was created by Dr. Monica Burns, a former classroom teacher, speaker and author. She shares her favorite EdTech resources for PreK-20 educators so they can make the most of the technology in their school. On this site you’ll find a roundup of Monica’s tips and strategies for leveraging the power of digital tools to empower learners of all ages. Whether you’re in a classroom full of Chromebooks, iPads, interactive whiteboards, or smartphones, this ClassTechTips.com has resources to help you make the most of the technology in the hands of students!